When I pack for a trip, there are a few essentials that always make it into my carry-on. A solid pair of active noise cancelling (ANC) headphones is at the top of that list. Since Sony surprised the market in 2016 with the MDR-1000X, they’ve consistently delivered some of the best ANC headphones available. Nine years later the market is more competitive than ever. Sony’s latest model WH-1000XM6 continues to push the bar forward with meaningful updates in comfort, portability and smart travel-friendly features.

Travel Case: Smaller and Magnetic

Sony has brought back the foldable design with the WH-1000XM6. As a result, the travel case is noticeably more compact. Compared to the larger case of the WH-1000XM5, this new case fits better in smaller backpacks and carry-ons.

The zipper on the case is gone, replaced with a magnet clasp that keeps things securely shut. Despite the reduced size, there’s still room for essentials like the 3.5mm cable and airplane adapter. It’s a practical improvement for frequent travelers who need to pack light.

Comfort: Long-Haul Ready

Sony has addressed one of my biggest issues with the previous generation, comfort. The WH-1000XM6 features a wider, better-padded headband, eliminating the top-band discomfort I experienced with the XM5 after a few hours. The slight redesign in the curvature also reduces pressure on the ears. Whether you’re using these on a long-haul flight or during a full workday abroad, they’re among the most comfortable ANC headphones I have worn.

Sound and Noise Cancellation: Subtle but Noticeable Gains

The WH-1000XM6 introduces Sony’s new QN3 processor, which promises faster and more adaptive ANC. In practice, noise cancellation has improved, but don’t expect complete silence. Voices and baby cries are still faintly audible, though they’re significantly reduced. With music playing, most ambient noise fades away.

Codec Support: No more lag

Sony added support for LC3 and Auracast to the WH-1000XM6. LC3 is a welcome addition for frequent flyers who stream video, offering lower latency and better audio quality than older codecs like AAC. If you’ve ever been annoyed by audio delay when watching movies on your phone or tablet, this is the fix. As always, your source device needs to support LC3 to take advantage of it. Auracast, on the other hand lets you broadcast audio to more than one listener. This is great if you frequently share screens on a plane with another traveler, allowing you watch movies with a travel buddy.

Features: More Smart Additions (and a Few Gimmicks)

Voice Commands

You can now say “Hey Headphones” to trigger built-in commands like “Pause music” or “Turn noise cancelling on.” Unlike previous integrations that depended on Google Assistant or Alexa, this system is local and works even with LE Audio. It’s fast and reliable, though not as flexible as full voice assistants.

Listening modes

These new soundstage simulations aim to mimic the feeling of listening in a cafe, living room, or cinema. Personally, I find these gimmicky. They slightly change the EQ and spatial characteristics, but I don’t see many travelers needing or using this feature. Strangely, the “background music” option is unavailable when voice commands are enabled, but the “Cinema” mode still works.

Improved LE Audio Integration

This is a major step forward. Sony now supports seamless switching between AAC and LE Audio. You no longer need to re-pair the WH-1000XM6s whenever you want to turn LE Audio on or off. Multipoint connection (the ability to connect two devices at the same time) also works with LE Audio and LC3 codec. The new listening modes and voice commands are also supported with LE Audio.

All of this is say, the WH-1000XM6s now allow you to use LE Audio (better latency and battery life) with multi devices at once. This is a major improvements and is one of my biggest issues with the LE Audio implementation on the older models.

Keep in mind, there are still some features you lose when you turn on LE Audio (Quick Access, Auto Switch, LDAC, and Assistant integration). If these features are crucial to you, you will want to stick with turning off LE Audio.

Ambient Sound and Auto Ambient

Ambient mode is dramatically improved, thanks to an increase from 8 to 12 external microphones. External sounds are clearer and more natural, which helps when navigating airports or city streets. There’s also a new Auto Ambient feature that selectively amplifies important background noises. In theory, this is useful. In practice, it boosted the sound of my washing machine over my music. I think Sony still need to tune the algorithm for these better. For now, I am leaving it off.

Battery Life: No Change, but No Problem

Battery life remains at around 30 hours, just like the WH-1000XM5. That’s plenty for most international flights and even multi-day trips. Fast charging is still supported, which helps if you’re ever in a pinch before boarding. I have no compliants in this department and don’t think it is an area Sony needs to think about improving.

Final Thoughts: Worth the Upgrade?

Feature	WH-1000XM6	WH-1000XM5	WH-1000XM4
Release Year	2025	2022	2020
Folding Design	Yes (Newly Returned)	No	Yes
Comfort	Wide padded band, reduced pressure	Thinner band, more top pressure	Padded but tighter clamping
Noise Cancellation	Improved with QN3 chip	Very good (QN1 chip)	Very good (QN1 chip)
Ambient Mode	Natural with 12 mics + Auto Ambient	Improved but fewer mics (8)	Functional but less natural
Supported Codecs	SBC, AAC, LDAC, LC3, Auracast	SBC, AAC, LDAC	SBC, AAC, LDAC
LE Audio Support	Full multipoint + features	Very limited	Not supported
Voice Assistant Integration	Built-in commands, Google Assistant, Alexa	Google Assistant, Alexa	Google Assistant, Alexa
Listening Modes	Yes (Room, Cinema, Cafe)	No	No
Battery Life	Up to 30 hours	Up to 30 hours	Up to 30 hours
Price at Launch	$450	$400	$350

If you already own the Sony WH-1000XM5, the WH-1000XM6 may not be a must-have at full price. At $450, this is a premium pair of headphones. The improvements in comfort, codec support, and portability are meaningful, but not revolutionary.

However, if you’re still using an older pair (XM4 or earlier) or looking for your first set of serious ANC headphones for travel, these are an easy recommendation. They deliver on nearly every front that matters to travelers: comfort, packability, battery life, and smart features that actually work on the road.

For frequent flyers, digital nomads, or anyone working abroad, the Sony WH-1000XM6 is a near-perfect travel companion.

If you’re planning to buy the Sony WH-1000XM6, using my affiliate link (Amazon) would be a big help. It supports me in purchasing more products and writing reviews like this one, and it doesn’t cost you anything extra. Happy Traveling ✈️